Brooks fruit spot

Disease

Brooks fruit spot

Mycosphaerella pomi (Pass.) Lindau

Distribution: Occurs throughout the northeastern and mid-Atlantic US and has been reported in Canada.


Appears as irregular, slightly sunken dark green lesions on immature fruit. On red-skinned varieties, fully developed lesions are dark red to purple and are generally no larger than 10 mm in diameter (A). On lighter-skinned varieties, lesions turn dark green. Brooks fruit spot does not cause significant browning of the flesh beneath the lesion (B).

  • Crops Affected: apples

    Management

    The disease is of minor importance because it is usually controlled by fungicides applied to control other diseases. Occasionally seen on Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Grimes Golden, Rome Beauty, Stayman, and Winesap.

    Similar Species

    Symptoms can be confused with physiological disorders such as bitter pit and Jonathan spot, but these disorders do not appear until later in the season. The disease may also be confused with stink bug damage.